Guest Column Police Blameless in Gay Teen's Suicide, Will Verdict Adversely Effect Gay Teens by R. Zeke Fread 365Gay.Com

The jury decision that cleared three Borough of Minersville, PA, police officers of violating Marcus Wayman's constitutional right to privacy, is a great setback in Gay Teen Suicide Prevention. (news story) It sends a message to our fragile and tormented gay teens, their constitutional rights to privacy are limited and serves to cause something more for them to be in fear about. Concerns for the adverse effect of this verdict on Gay Teens and what can we do to combat the negative impact.

The facts are clear that the officers had threatened to disclose that Marcus was gay and he was so traumatized by the officers threat to tell his grandfather he was gay, he killed himself several hours after being released from police custody. This is not disputed. The note he left, even further shows the connection to his Grandfather saying, "'I'm sorry grandpa, I found my future, I won't let everyone's life be ruined by mine."

It is so difficult for me to believe, a jury could find the officers COMPLETELY BLAMELESS in Marcus's decision to take his own life. With the treatment the teen endured at the hands of those charged with protecting him, calling him and a freind queers, condemning, ridiculing them with misinterpreted references from the Bible, was not torment enough, they had to threaten to tell Marcus's Grandfather he was gay.

They may have escaped blame and responsibility for their actions by a jury of their peers. They have not escaped being held accountable by those of us who do not want our gay teens to believe their actions are acceptable. That, this treatment of gay teens is wrong and will not be allowed to continue unchallenged. Gay teens should not have the added fear, that they themselves could someday be the victims of such horrific treatment.

We have to protect them from those who would cause them harm. Let us not allow the jury to send our gay teens the message this is the type of justice they as gay teens can expect in future. For whatever reason they decided the police officers in this situation were free of any blame and actions were not wrong. We must be sure, that we send our message that we care about them and they absolutely do not deserve to be treated in such a manner solely for who they are.

Talk to teens, both gay and non-gay, be sure they know how much we care and are here to protect them. So, at least, they will not feel the fear that the Marcus's have been exposed to by the intolerant and bigoted beliefs of others.

R. Zeke Fread is Coordinator & Organizer of gay rights organization Tampa Bay Coalition http://tampabaycoalition.homestead.com/News.html

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